Routy56 - can you just....

[Routy56]

View attachment 79920
And he gets airborne with just the sock on a stick stuck on his helmet ?

You may need to look at the image on a large screen Kev, rather than scrolling through on yer two hour lunch break with a cracked French smartphone

 

[Furniss]

I see, he shortens the stick before take off

EDIT: its not real @V8Druid

 

[Routy56]

View attachment 79923I see, he shortens the stick before take off View attachment 79922EDIT: its not real @V8Druid

Looks like you have too much time on yer hands - get out on that mud bike
He really does have a full size wing - here's another photo:

But check out this video clip for great views of Mersea Island

 

[Furniss]

its a rare thing but yes plenty of time to reflect since Christmas 🌧🌧, been o.k in that respect, but plenty of work lined up and looking forward to getting at it shortly

 

[Routy56]

Another busy week so here's a quick round up with photos

Last Saturday we did the "5K Your Way" at the local Parkrun.
It's the "Move Against Cancer" that Sharon does now since having Breast Cancer. Now all clear since last August.

They are a great group of local friends who have been effected by cancer

Then I cleaned up the old trench compactor ready to get it sold. Fired right up after cleaning the carb and adding fresh fuel. Still needs further fettling but I want it gone as part of my grand clear out

Then on Tuesday we gathered for our monthly NARPO Ramble

This time it was up the big hill to look down over the "Bures Dragon" from St. Stephnes Chapel.
All followed by a nice pub lunch

 

[Routy56]

Then on Wednesday went out shopping for a Static Caravan. We have decided to help our grandson Ryan get on the property ladder. He can stay with us and those save up for his first home. At 22 years old, like many other youngsters they are finding it tough to get a place of their own

We looked at loads last weekend. Loads of rubbish out there for silly money.

But found this absolutely superb modern unit with a local dealer. Ex holiday caravan with 3 bedrooms and all appliances still in place. Gas Safe certificate only just expired but can be renewed before use.

Was asking £5000 and we shook hands at £4000. Well pleased compared with other dealers prices.
This one is 35x10ft. Has to be the narrower model because our side access is only 11ft wide.
Delivery on Wednesday

So the boys (Ryan and Jack) came over yesterday and helped to prepare the site in our back garden

Ryan jumped on the digger and Jack on the shovel and cleared away the bonfire site and stockpiles next to the site.

Then I went up in the old cherry picker cutting back over hanging branches. Then all the electrics went dead leaving me up there

The boys did a great job getting me down by operating the Emergency lowering valves
Initial checks revealed that the main solenoid which operates by earth return is open circuit...

Then Jack jumped on the dumper taking away the brushwood cut off a Yew Tree next the the driveway by the house. Sharon AKA SWMBO obeyed came out and shouted at me, "Oi, I didn't this that you would be hacking my lovely Yew Tree that much, it looks terrible" and stormed off back indoors

Then Ryan graded the site ready to receive his new 'temporary home'
Obviously a work in progress.......

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Then on Wednesday went out shopping for a Static Caravan. We have decided to help our grandson Ryan get on the property ladder. He can stay with us and those save up for his first home. At 22 years old, like many other youngsters they are finding it tough to get a place of their own View attachment 80401
We looked at loads last weekend. Loads of rubbish out there for silly money.

View attachment 80402
But found this absolutely superb modern unit with a local dealer. Ex holiday caravan with 3 bedrooms and all appliances still in place. Gas Safe certificate only just expired but can be renewed before use.

Was asking £5000 and we shook hands at £4000. Well pleased compared with other dealers prices.
This one is 35x10ft. Has to be the narrower model because our side access is only 11ft wide.
Delivery on Wednesday

So the boys (Ryan and Jack) came over yesterday and helped to prepare the site in our back garden
View attachment 80403
Ryan jumped on the digger and Jack on the shovel and cleared away the bonfire site and stockpiles next to the site.

View attachment 80405
Then I went up in the old cherry picker cutting back over hanging branches. Then all the electrics went dead leaving me up there

View attachment 80406
The boys did a great job getting me down by operating the Emergency lowering valves
Initial checks revealed that the main solenoid which operates by earth return is open circuit...

View attachment 80407
Then Jack jumped on the dumper taking away the brushwood cut off a Yew Tree next the the driveway by the house. Sharon AKA SWMBO obeyed came out and shouted at me, "Oi, I didn't this that you would be hacking my lovely Yew Tree that much, it looks terrible" and stormed off back indoors


View attachment 80404
Then Ryan graded the site ready to receive his new 'temporary home'
Obviously a work in progress.......

What a great thing to do to help a family member. I'd be charging him rent if it was me ( as a lodger - there is I think a tax free amount for that) then be offering to match whatever he puts into his LISA (upto a point!) Good money habits at that age are invaluable. Wish I had been better guided then. Mind you I had a child at his age so that changes things a bit.

PS. Get that gas fire ripped out as they are a bloody liability and with the static tucked under those trees may suffer from inadequate flue pull. Ensure 2 good CO alarms fitted, and 2 x smoke alarms and a decent fire extinguisher and a fire blanket please
If you bin off the gas fire you can block off all the million vents in the lounger area. I would strongly suggest fitting (safely and carefully) a small (less than 5.5kw) wood burner instead. Ducted air if you can, but the static will be so leaky that you don't need to worry about additional combustion ventilation, just get a good draw on the flue with a vedette cowl IMHO.
Source - Spent first 29 years of my life living in similar conditions. Also I am Gas Safe for statics so have work on a lot of them :-(

 

[Routy56]

What a great thing to do to help a family member. I'd be charging him rent if it was me ( as a lodger - there is I think a tax free amount for that) then be offering to match whatever he puts into his LISA (upto a point!) Good money habits at that age are invaluable. Wish I had been better guided then. Mind you I had a child at his age so that changes things a bit.

PS. Get that gas fire ripped out as they are a bloody liability and with the static tucked under those trees may suffer from inadequate flue pull. Ensure 2 good CO alarms fitted, and 2 x smoke alarms and a decent fire extinguisher and a fire blanket please
If you bin off the gas fire you can block off all the million vents in the lounger area. I would strongly suggest fitting (safely and carefully) a small (less than 5.5kw) wood burner instead. Ducted air if you can, but the static will be so leaky that you don't need to worry about additional combustion ventilation, just get a good draw on the flue with a vedette cowl IMHO.
Source - Spent first 29 years of my life living in similar conditions. Also I am Gas Safe for statics so have work on a lot of them :-(

Morning Ben - thought you'd pop up when I mentioned Gas Safe
As always your advice and support is invaluable
Looks like I'll be doing some retail therapy this morning at Screwfix for the alarms etc (which were already on my list).
My neighbour James, who I did the soak away a few weeks ago, is Gas Safe so he'll will do the checks and Certification.
James currently works with all aspects of heating and in particulate renewal ASHP, GSHP etc etc

And yes, it's good to help family members get on in life. Some of you may recall that Ryan moved in with us during the various 'lockdowns' during the Covid-19 pandemic. And at various stages, he staying in our touring caravan, when not staying in spare bedroom(s).
On this occasion, he will still be 'part of our main household' and simply contributing by paying a 'Peppercorn Rent' and all the electric etc.
Good advice about the log burner, but won't be going down that route. Too much of a fire risk
There are electric fan heaters in each of the 3 bedrooms. And we will supply a very nice electric converter heater to compliment/replace the gas fire.

Chuffed to bit that's it got a super little water heater installed

Hopefully, you don't tell me that Morco are rubbish

Ryan will one moving in over the Easter holiday (and warmer weather).
So have got a few weeks to get it sited properly and services connected.......

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Morning Ben - thought you'd pop up when I mentioned Gas Safe
As always your advice and support is invaluable
Looks like I'll be doing some retail therapy this morning at Screwfix for the alarms etc (which were already on my list).
My neighbour James, who I did the soak away a few weeks ago, is Gas Safe so he'll will do the checks and Certification.
James currently works with all aspects of heating and in particulate renewal ASHP, GSHP etc etc

And yes, it's good to help family members get on in life. Some of you may recall that Ryan moved in with us during the various 'lockdowns' during the Covid-19 pandemic. And at various stages, he staying in our touring caravan, when not staying in spare bedroom(s).
On this occasion, he will still be 'part of our main household' and simply contributing by paying a 'Peppercorn Rent' and all the electric etc.
Good advice about the log burner, but won't be going down that route. Too much of a fire risk
There are electric fan heaters in each of the 3 bedrooms. And we will supply a very nice electric converter heater to compliment/replace the gas fire.

Chuffed to bit that's it got a super little water heater installed View attachment 80409
Hopefully, you don't tell me that Morco are rubbish

Ryan will one moving in over the Easter holiday (and warmer weather).
So have got a few weeks to get it sited properly and services connected.......

Morco are the least worst of the range OF LPG water heaters They do the job. I'm sure you mate knows, but in addition to the usual raft of ACS quals to be Gas safe, you also need domestic LPG crossover ticket and another specific ticket for static caravans and then ANOTHER bloody ticket just for the Widney closed flue gas fire..
Make sure the supplier removes the flue for the Morco before they move the static on low loader, otherwise you will likely need a new flue and a new water heater (see it happen regularly!)

 

[Routy56]

Morco are the least worst of the range OF LPG water heaters They do the job. I'm sure you mate knows, but in addition to the usual raft of ACS quals to be Gas safe, you also need domestic LPG crossover ticket and another specific ticket for static caravans and then ANOTHER bloody ticket just for the Widney closed flue gas fire..
Make sure the supplier removes the flue for the Morco before they move the static on low loader, otherwise you will likely need a new flue and a new water heater (see it happen regularly!)

More great advice-many thanks.
I’ll pass this onto to the dealer who is arranging the transport 16 miles to here
And I like your advice about a LISA - looks like I’ll be chatting to Ryan about this
Back in the day we was only 19 when we bought our first house. Ryan is now 22.
Youngsters today have a tough future ahead

 

[pettsy]

Thought you might have hitched it on the navara and bought it back @Routy56

 

[Routy56]

Thought you might have hitched it on the navara and bought it back @Routy56

If it was nearby Matt, maybe The last one that came here was from a few miles up the road on the back of my mates Range Rover

 

[Storrsy]

I lived in a static when I was 16 at Barony college in Scotland- spent the winter there and to be fair they're not bad places to be- got quite cosy at times!

 

[Routy56]

Well on Wednesday, they rocked up bang on time to deliver the static caravan here for Ryan..

We dropped in in the road

And I pulled it in with the dumper

But it was very tight up my back passage

Took about 2 hours inch by inch to get it through with no damage using the Navara to ease it through...

Couldn't have done it without my brother Graham

Then we had to spin it 180 degrees but it was bogging on the soft ground so Ryan jumped on the digger and gave the dumper a shove

Ryan had a quick look after work and was very pleased. All funded by bank of grandad.
I have told him to start saving now using a LISA

And there it is - in place ready for final levelling and connection of services
Job jobbed for now - then I relaxed with a few glasses of wine

 

[V8Druid]

Well on Wednesday, they rocked up bang on time to deliver the static caravan here for Ryan..View attachment 80519

We dropped in in the road View attachment 80520

And I pulled it in with the dumper
View attachment 80521

But it was very tight up my back passage
View attachment 80522

Took about 2 hours inch by inch to get it through with no damage using the Navara to ease it through...
View attachment 80523

Couldn't have done it without my brother Graham View attachment 80524

Then we had to spin it 180 degrees but it was bogging on the soft ground so Ryan jumped on the digger and gave the dumper a shove
View attachment 80526

Ryan had a quick look after work and was very pleased. All funded by bank of grandad.
I have told him to start saving now using a LISA
View attachment 80527

View attachment 80525

And there it is - in place ready for final levelling and connection of services
Job jobbed for now - then I relaxed with a few glasses of wine

does that need planning Dave?
wait 'til the (probably bankrupt) LA wants to charge you council tax .. (particularly as you're gonna hook it up to services)

 

[Lancs Lad]

does that need planning Dave?
wait 'til the (probably bankrupt) LA wants to charge you council tax .. (particularly as you're gonna hook it up to services)

Temp. And on wheels. Fight that tooth and nail if not on agg

 

[Routy56]

does that need planning Dave?
wait 'til the (probably bankrupt) LA wants to charge you council tax .. (particularly as you're gonna hook it up to services)

He’s a member of our household and it remains within our residential curtilage etc
Remember lockdown when he lived here.
I’d rather not discuss this on an open forum
Just giving a family member a better chance in life

 

[Steve]

Well done on getting it sited, I hope Graham got a glass or two.

 

[V8Druid]

just playing devil's advocate Dave ....
these bankrupt councils'll try it on with any excuse to claw more out of your wallet
apparently there are lots of LA,s citing 'garden rooms' as taxable now, especially if they have any form of water service installed and a flushing toilet is an absolute no no
calling them additional habitable accommodation
big re-valuation for council tax coming this year too

 

[Routy56]

Well done on getting it sited, I hope Graham got a glass or two.

Yes I will take him out for a fat boys breakfast next week